Temporary web support for wind turbine blade rotating device
Provided herein is a shear web support for wind turbine blade. Particularly, the present disclosure provides a frangible shear web support element that is designed to fail under certain specific conditions. The frangible support(s) enhance the structural rigidity of the shear web, allow for one-step mold closures, and rupture or disconnect once a predetermined condition (e.g. load threshold, load orientation/vector) is applied to the support element.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a blade, comprising:
a first and second spar cap;
a first wall, wherein the first wall is coupled to the first spar cap;
a second wall, wherein the second wall is coupled to the second spar cap;
a shear web coupled to at least the first spar cap; and
a frangible support coupled to the shear web and the first wall, wherein the frangible support is configured to fail under a predefined condition.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frangible support includes a first leg and a second leg, with a frangible connection disposed therebetween.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the predefined condition is a stress threshold amount.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the predefined condition is a load vector.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the load vector is oriented orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the support.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frangible portion is located at a midpoint of the support.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frangible portion includes a weakened section.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frangible portion includes a pull cord.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frangible support is oriented at approximately 45 degrees relative to the shear web.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of frangible support members, at least two frangible support members spaced approximately 12.5 meters apart.
11. A method of assembling a wind turbine blade comprising:
providing a first blade half;
providing a second blade half;
providing a shear web, the shear web coupled to the first blade half;
coupling a frangible support to the shear web and the first blade half;
triggering the frangible support to fail.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein triggering the frangible support to fail includes pulling a cord to disengage a frangible connecting portion from the remainder of the support.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein triggering the frangible support to fail includes applying a stress in excess of a threshold amount.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein triggering the frangible support to fail includes applying a load along a vector oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the support.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein triggering the frangible support to fail includes positioning the second blade half on top of the first blade half.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising removing the frangible support from the assembled blade.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the frangible support is oriented at approximately 45 degrees relative to the shear web.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the frangible support is coupled to the shear web at approximately the midpoint of the shear web.
19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a plurality of frangible support members, at least two frangible support members spaced approximately 12.5 meters apart.
20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a second frangible support member, and coupling the second frangible support to the shear web and the second blade half.